Google Plus Widget add to your Site

 Google  Plus new social site on the Internet, Google has received a great reception. This is only a matter of mere entertainment as we see fit in any of our cricle need to know to use. Written in our blog entries will definitely help us update, Google Plus, read the following to find friends who will help immediately. You can also share your information with Google plus page / information about you update your blog readers might be able to learn. The Internet serves as Widgetplus.

1. The first number in the address for your Google profile to know plus. Google plus a unique number assigned to each of the affiliates. After entering your Google account to see this on the mouse, click on the links below
http://profiles.google.com/me

2. Then plus your Google profile page will be displayed. In the Web browser's address bar if you know the following. Plus, Google is your profile number and the enne. Keep at it.
https://plus.google.com/118233819685123691331/posts

3.  Goto widgetplus site... Click to Get Widget Button..... Setting ---> Google ID . Enter U r Google ID...

4. Next, the width, height, etc. Please. The Background color, Border color, Title color, Button color, Button width, Name Colorsettings, such as you end up doing pitittavaru Get Code button in the Settings area, click on the subtitles will be displayed if theprogram is to add Cricle.

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Google Chrome Remote Desktop BETA allowing users to remotely access another computer through Chrome browser or a Chrome book

Download extension of Google Chrome Remote Desktop BETA.

The Goal of this beta release is to demonstrate the code Chrome Remoting technology and get feedback from users. This version enables users to share with or get access to another computer by providing a one-time authentication code. Access is given only to the specific person the user identifies for one time only, and the sharing session is fully secured. One potential use of this version is the remote IT help desk case. The helpdesk can use the Chrome Remote Desktop BETA to help another user, while conversely a user can receive help by setting up a sharing session without leaving their desk. Additional use cases such as being able to access your own computer remotely are coming soon.

Chrome Remote Desktop BETA is fully cross platform, so you can connect any two computers that have a Chrome browser, including Windows, Linux, Mac and Chrome books.

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Krishna River

Krishna River 

Originating from the western flanks of the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar, Krishna is the fourth largest river basin in the country. It flows 1,440 kms through the staes of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. The rivers Koyna, Vasna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra join Krishna from the right bank; while the Yarla, Musi, Maneru and Bhima rivers join the Krishna from the left bank.

Pollution
Krishna's long journey makes it vulnerable to all sorts of pollution. The river receives effluents and wastewater from a number of large cities, including Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Hyderabad, Kurnool and Vijaywada, among others. More than 500 important industrial units operate from the Krishna basin, 200 of which are large-scale industrial units. 

Most tributaries of the mighty Krishna are reeling under pollution today. Sewage from Pune is choking the city's river Mula-Mutha. Musi, Krishna's tributary on the west of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, is in a bad shape with nearly 350 mld of polluted water and sewage originating from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad flowing into it. 

Decades of industrial pollution have also damaged the Tungabhadra river. Two units of Gwalior Rayon Silk Manufacturing (Weaving) Company Ltd (Grasim) are located on its banks in the Dharwad district of Karnataka. Together, the whole industrial complex generates approximately 33,000 cum of effluents. 

Villagers downstream of the factory felt the affects of pollution almost as soon as the industrial unit was commissioned. The river water has since become dark brown in colour and has a pungent odour. Inspection also revealed that the Harihar-Grasilene effluent treatment plant did not function at all times, and between 70-80 per cent untreated effluent was being released into the river. The pollution of Tungabhadra affected 1,00,000 people in the sub-basin. Instances of stomach ailments and skin rashes were recorded by the local administration as most villages used the river for drinking water, bathing, irrigation, fishing and water for their livestock. 

But the worst affected are the fisher folk. Regular fish kills have exhausted Tungabhadra's fisheries. A study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, showed that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in the raw effluents released into the river were 1,000 mg/l. The effects of pollution were felt 40 kms downstream in the summers.

Government Action

The state government has failed to act despite the river’s grim pollution scenario. Despite protests from the villagers and farmers all that the state government has formed several committees to study the problem, with no results on the ground.

In 1973 the Karnataka state legislature instituted a three-member committee to look into the issue. The committee filed its report in 1974. Farming communities on the banks of the Tungabhadra continued to suffer and all further protests fell on deaf ears.

In December 2001, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the Rs 296 crore National River Conservation Plan project to beautify the river. However, till May 2002 nothing had been done.In fact, instead of solving the problem, the state government proposes to merely remove the sewage out of sight and into another river. In compliance with a 1998 Supreme Court order on curbing pollution in Patancheru industrial belt and its adjoining area, the state government intends to divert effluents from this region into the Musi river through a pipeline.

With the situation showing no signs of progress, protests forced the local administration to carry out a joint inspection report headed by the then District health officer in Dharwad in August 1979. The inspection revealed that the Harihar-Grasilene effluent treatment plant did not function regularly, and that 70-80 per cent of effluents were being released into the river untreated. Harihar-Grasilene's new treatment plant was built in December 1983. In February 1984, a massive fish kill was reported in the Tungabhadra, downstream of the factories. Seriously worried by now, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) issued orders to the company prohibiting production.

In 1981, a plan was floated for shifting the worst affected Nalvagul village to the adjoining Kodiala village; the entire cost was to be borne by the Grasim factory. However Grasim refused to fund the transfer because it claimed it had adequate treatment facilities. Although the Birlas argued that villages were not affected by pollution, in 1999 they agreed to pay Rs 261.11 lakh under government pressure. A year later they released another Rs 50 lakh to the district collector of Haveri district.

In 1994, after another fish kill downstream of Harihar and Grasilene factories, residents of nearby Airani village collected water samples and took them to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The KSPCB issued a show cause notice alleging that Grasim was operating without permission under the Water and Air Act.

People's Movement

As is evident, all the government has done is form committees. That too was brought about by the incessant protests of the villagers and several non-governmental organisations (NGO's). The joint inspection report headed by the district health officer in Dharwad in 1979 was also a result of the rampant protests.

Any hope of compensation for the victims of pollution also owes itself to people's protests. In response to the 1994 fish kill, the Tungabhadra Parisara Samiti, an organization of affected persons and their sympathizers, held regular protests and processions. Activists also wrote letters to senior politicians as well as the district administration, to little effect. Then, 62 members of the Harihar Taluk Guttooru fishermen's co-operative society filed a case against the industry asking for medical aid and a compensation of 18,000 per person for their loss. Thereafter, the industry agreed to give a meager sum of Rs 2,000 as compensation after 8 years in April 2002. In protest, the fisherfolk society filed an application with the additional civil judge, Harihar and the free legal aid cell, for their mediation. However, so far little has come out of the legal battle. Some of the members are now ready to settle the case with whatever compensation the industry is ready to offer.

However, the plight of the Tungabhadra underscores the fact that beyond a point, most industries put up their hands, saying that they can do so much and no more -- acceptable pollution levels can well go for a toss. The state needs the industry's revenue and gains -- direct as well as indirect. If, in the bargain, public health and a national property (the river) are destroyed, well, that's too bad. The industry continues making money at the cost of everything else. The media goes on discussing the problem. But nothing ever seems to change for the better.

Tapti River

Origin of Tapi River : 
Tapi river is one of the major rivers in India. The total length of the Tapi river is approximately around 724 km. It flows in the central part of India. The river originates from the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura range at an elevation of 752 meter above the sea level. The states through which the Tapi river flows include Maharashtra, Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh. Apart from the Narmada river, Tapi is the only river which flows in the westward direction and merges into the Arabian Sea. The Tapi basin extends to the total area of 65, 145 sq km, which is approximately 2.0% of the total geographical area of India. The main tributaries of the Tapi river are Purna, The Girna, The Panjhra, The Vaghur, the Bori and the Aner.

History of Tapi River : 
In the earlier times Tapi river at Surat was used as the major ports for the purpose of exports of goods and also as an important stopover destination for Muslim pilgrimage called Haj to Mecca. 

Other Names of the Tapi River : 
Tapati, Tapti, Tapee, Taapi are the other names used for the Tapi river in India. 

Religious Significance : 
According to the legends, Tapi river also known as Tapti is the daughter of Surya (the Sun God). Some says that Surya created the Tapi river in order to save himself from his own intense heat. The river finds mention in the great Indian epic Mahabharata, according to which Tapti had married Sanvaran, a legendary hero of the moon dynasty. Tapti and Sanvaran also had the son called Kuru. It was on his name only the Kuru dynasty started. Tapi is considered as the Goddess among the Hindus and is worshiped among them. 

Around Tapi River : 
Tapi river is been supporting the large number of population especially the indigenous people such as Dhodia, and Bhils who are heavily dependent on it. The soil around the Tapi river is good for agriculture. The rural and tribal population around the Tapi river grow large number of chief crops around it and sell it in the market to earn their livelihood. The water of the Tapi river is widely used for the irrigation purpose. Tapi river is the home to the natural habitats of many wild animals including tigers, sloth bear, lions, snakes and many more.

Indus River

FACTS & FIGURES 

Source Lake Mansarovar
Length 2,900 miles
Coverage Tibet, Ladakh, Zanskar Valley, and Pakistan
Tributaries Zanskar, Sutlej, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, and Chenab

HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY 

According to Hindu mythology, in the beginning of the world was word and the first recorded word was ‘Veda’. And the Vedas are just ecstatic about the Sindhu (also Indus), the cradle of Indian civilization:
Sindhu in might surpasses all the streams that flow His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth; he puts forth endless vigor with a flash of light… Even as cows with milk rush to their calves, so other rivers roar into the Sindhu.As a warrior-king leads other warriors, so does Sindhu lead other rivers Rich in good steeds is Sindhu, rich in gold, nobly fashioned, rich in ample wealth.
The river Sindhu has been invoked numerous times in the Vedic literature with other gods and goddesses. In fact, the Vedas refer to theGanga only twice, but make as many as thirty references to the Sindhu.

India itself is a corruption of the word Sindhu. Arabians pronounced ‘s’ as ‘h’ and called India Hindustan, the land of Hindus. Greeks pronounced Sindhu as Indus, and so the name India. Sindhu is the oldest name in Indian history as well in Indian geography.

When Shiva carried the immolated body of his divine consort Sati over all the land, her skull-top with its hingula (sindur) fell at what has been Hinglaj ever since. It is near Karachi on the Sindh-Baluchistan border. To this holy spot-sanctified by the visit of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana-went the great Sindhi Sufi poet-saint Shah Abdul Latif in the company of yogis. As long as East and West Pakistan were one state, a major attraction to the Bangladeshi Hindus visiting the west wing was Hinglaj.
The reference of Sindhu does not end with the Vedic texts but continued in the great epic of Mahabharata and then in the first history book written in India, Rajtarangini.

ALONG THE INDUS 

Rising in southwestern Tibet, at an altitude of 16,000 feet, Indus enters the Indian territory near Leh in Ladakh.The river has total drainage area of about 4,50,000 square miles, of which 1,75,000 square miles lie in the Himalayan mountains and foothills.

After flowing eleven miles beyond Leh, Indus is joined on the left by its first tributary, the Zanskar, which helps green the Zanskar Valley. Many interesting mountain trails beckon the mountaineering enthusiasts to the Zanskar Valley.

The Indus then flows past Batalik. When it enters the plains, its famous five tributaries-Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej-that give Punjab its name as the “land of five rivers,” join it.

Buddhist monasteries and other heritage sites are the principal tourist attractions of Central Ladakh and Zanskar. These sites, most within reach of Leh, may be visited by a bus or taxi. Many of the region’s major gompas (Buddhist monasteries) are open throughout the day and a caretaker Lama is available to show visitors around. Some of the less visited establishments have special opening hours, as in the case of Namgyal Tsemo, Shey Palace, and the Stok Palace Museum.

Hall of Fame, near Leh, is a tribute to our valiant soldiers. About 30 km from Leh, there is a Sikh gurdwara that is maintained by the Indian Army. Both the places are worth visiting.

SINDHU DARSHAN 

The “Sindhu Darshan” or Sindhu festival held in the month of June aims at projecting the Indus as a symbol of India’s unity and communal harmony. Whilst promoting tourism to this area, this festival is also a symbolic salute to the brave soldiers of India who have been fighting not only with the enemies in the human form but also in the form of nature.

Saraswati River

THE MOTHER OF ALL RIVERS 
The Saraswati River is believed to have drained the north and northwest region of India in ancient times, supporting over 1,6000 settlements.Although the river does not have a physical existence today, there are numerous references to it in the ancient Indian literature of the Vedic and post-Vedic period. Rig Veda, the most ancient of the four Vedas, describes Saraswati as a mighty river with many individually recognized tributaries. The sacred book calls Saraswati as the seventh river of the Sindhu-Saraswati river system, hence the name Saptsindhu for the region bounded by rivers Saraswati in the east and Sindhu (also Indus) in the west. Rig Veda hymns also describe life and times of the people residing in the Saraswati river valley. The awe and reverence the river inspired during the Vedic period is best summed by the three-word tribute to the river in the Rig Veda-Ambitamé, the best of the mothers; Naditamé, the best of the rivers; and Devitamé, the best of the goddesses.

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION 
River Saraswati originated from the Har-ki-Dun glacier in West Garhwal, Bandarpunch massif in the Himalayas, along with the river Yamuna. The two rivers flowed parallel for some distance and later joined, proceeding south as the Vedic Saraswati. The seasonal rivers and rivulets, including Ghaggar, joined Saraswati as it followed the course of the present river through Punjab and Haryana. River Sutlej, the Vedic Shatadru, joined the river Saraswati as a tributary at Shatrana, approximately 25 km south of Patiala. Saraswati then followed the course of Ghaggar throughRajasthan and Hakra in Bhawalpur before emptying into the Rann of Kutch via Nara in Sindh province, running parallel to the Indus River. It has been established that the river Saraswati, carrying the waters of three perennial and numerous seasonal rivers, was a mighty river in the Vedic times and rightly deserved the Rig Veda title of Naditamé-the greatest of the rivers.

HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY

During the Vedic period, Saraswati was recognized as the greatest of the River that nurtured the people living on its banks like a loving mother, and supported a number of learning centers and their resident scholars, ascetics, sages and seers like a benevolent deity.

 In view of this, it may be safe to assume that the ancient Vedic literature was itself written on the banks of this river. By nurturing such a pursuit of divine knowledge, Saraswati appropriately assumes the status of the goddess of language, learning, arts and sciences-the best of the goddesses.

Post-Vedic literature, mainly the Mahabharata, has references to the drying river Saraswati. Mahabharata describes Balarama’s pilgrimage from Dwarka to Mathura along the bed of this river. Later, during the middle ages, there are references to fissures and faults in the ground on the dry bed of river Saraswati. Invading armies of Islam marching from Sindh province to Delhi are reported to have taken a longer mountain route instead of the shorter route of the dry Saraswati bed because of the difficulties in crossing the fissure in the river bed. Recently, satellite images have also confirmed the existence of a large number of ground faults in the earthquake-prone northwest India that constituted the Saraswati-Sindhu valley. Such ground faults have caused the seepage of Saraswati water to underground channels, contributing to the legend of the Vedic Saraswati disappearing underground.

PRESENT-DAY RESEARCH 
How and when was this mighty river lost? Researches have shown that the course of this river had links with the dry bed of Ghaggar River in the northeast (Ganganagar district) while in the southwest it met or cut across surviving courses of the Hakra and Nara rivers in Pakistan. In the northwestern part of Jaisalmer district, in spite of very low rainfall (less that 150 mm) and extreme weather conditions, groundwater is available at a depth of about 50-60 m along the course of the defunct river and wells in the vicinity do not dry up throughout the year. The groundwater in the area is rich in stable isotope content as compared to other Himalayan rivers. Groundwater samples exhibit negligible tritium content indicating absence of modern recharge. Radiocarbon data suggest the groundwater is a few thousand years old. The levels of Carbon-14 isotope decrease along the river course downstream indicating hydraulic continuity of the Saraswati buried channel from Kuria Beri to Ghantiyalji.

Evidence collected so far shows that the river disappeared due to a combination of reasons spread over a few hundred years possibly between 2000 and 1500 BC. The main reasons contributing to the drying of the river appear to be the loss of its important tributaries due to changes in river course, climate changes (like long periods of draught) and water seepage through earth faults, and fissures combined with the obstruction of river flow by shifting of sand due to high winds. The whole of northwest India, up to the Rann of Kutch, was subject to earthquake activity, resulting in raising of the ground, and creation of earth faults that contributed to the loss of water of this river.

When the Aravallis range is traced north to the Himalayas, there is evidence of rise in the ground level on the line of Aravallis. This change in the ground level appears to have caused the turning of the river Yamuna eastwards to join the Ganges at Allahabad. This river capturing denied the waters of Yamuna to Saraswati. Another blow to the river Saraswati was struck when Sutlej took a sharp U-turn at Ropar moving to flow parallel to the river Beas, the Vedic Vipasa. Having lost both of its perennial tributaries, i.e., Yamuna and Sutlej, river Saraswati would have been a drying river in around 2000 BC. It is probable that desertification of Rajasthan would have taken place at that time. As supported by the hydro-geological evidence, the ground faults and sand movement would have caused the seepage of the remaining waters of river Saraswati to underground channels, leaving a dry riverbed.

Last part of the legend is that the Saraswati meets the Ganges and Yamuna at the confluence (Sangam) at Allahabad (Prayag). Neither archæological finds nor satellite images support any evidence of the River Saraswati ever flowing east towards Allahabad, either over the ground or underground. Some modern scholars interpret the capture of Saraswati waters by Yamuna also to mean the confluence of Yamuna and Saraswati jointly with Ganges at Allahabad. If this is accepted, meeting of Sutlej with Beas has equal claim to the confluence of threeRiver, i.e., Sutlej, Beas, and Saraswati.

Narmada River

FACTS & FIGURES

Source Mahadeo hills in Madhya Pradesh.
Length 1,312 km
Coverage Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
Important cities Jabalpur

MYTHOLOGY

The Narmada River is considered the mother and giver of peace. Legend has it that the mere sight of this river is enough to cleanse one’s soul, as against a dip in the Ganga or seven in the Yamuna. The Ganga is believed to visit this river once a year, in the guise of a black cow to cleanse herself of all her collected sins.The journey along the river Narmada is in some sense similar to famous parikrama (taking round) of the river, except that the parikrama is of life in the valley of the Narmada.

ALONG THE RIVER

Narmadakund in Amarkantak has an ambience that makes a pilgrim spot out of this small place. Amarkantak is a plateau from which hangs a tale.

Young Narmada falls in love with the male river Son and asks Juhilla (a tributary of the Son) to convey her message of love. Juhilla entices Son herself. The disgust and anguish of the lovely Narmada compels her to jump off the western cliffs of Amarkantak. A mere six kilometers from her genesis, the Narmada hurtles down 150 feet at Kapildhara, a gorgeous waterfall. Named after the saint Kapil, this fall is soon followed by Dudhadhara. All along the river, one will be always close to teak jungles. Apart from teaks, India’s best hardwood forests are found in the Narmada river basin and they are much older than the ones in the Himalayas. Moving along, one reaches the marble rock country Bheraghat near Jabalpur . Bheraghat, about 24 km away from Jabalpur , is a cluster of great, white limestone cliffs standing out 30 m above the waters of the Narmada. They are an awesome sight, particularly by night when white, silvery moonshine bathes the gorge. The views at Dhuandhar, where the river is more like a screen of mist, and Haathi-ka-Paon are mesmeric.

There is the Chausath Yogini (sixty-four yoginis) temple above the lower end of the gorge. The attendants of Durga are represented here. Although the images have been damaged, they still retain their pristine beauty.

The city of Jabalpur is the second largest in Madhya Pradesh after Bhopal. The metropolis itself stands in a rock basin about 10 km away from the Narmada. Named after a saint called Jabali who lived here, Jabalpur is famous for its marble rocks.

Down the Narmada, it is a myriad landscape-thickly forested mountain slopes, rocky regions with picturesque rapids, falls and whirlpools and cultivated lands with rich black cotton soil. The great river runs through rift valleys, which are part of perhaps the oldest geological formations of India. Believed to have originated from the body of Shiva, the river is also known as Jata Shankari. The worship of Shiva is common in these areas, and each stone or pebble found in the bed of the Narmada is believed to be a Shivalinga. Places along the banks-Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, and Mahadeo-are all named after Shiva.

Omkareshwar has several old and new temples. There is an island on the river that is supposed to have one of India’s twelve great Shivalingas. Maheshwar is on the northern banks of the river. Cenotaphs in memory of the Holkars beautify the landscape at Maheshwar. There are a number of temples too, and a fort. One also gets a chance to see the delicate, gorgeous Maheshwari saris being hand-woven. Comfortable in warm and cold weather, dressy and yet light, these saris have a dedicated, select following among Indian women. Places like Maheshwar and Omkareshwar are just examples of the large number of religious centers that dot the banks of the Narmada as it weaves its 1,000-kilometer journey through the state of Madhya Pradesh.

To this Narmada, home to so many, religion to more, and beautiful river to all, there are many odes. The best ode would be a sojourn for a real experience that can last a lifetime

Kaveri River

Origin of the River Kaveri : 
River Kaveri originates in the Brahmagiri hills in Kodagu, in a place called Talakaveri (head of Kaveri). It starts its journey from the small pond called as Kundike pond, later the two tributaries known as Kanake and Sujyoti joins it. All these three rivers meets at the point called Bhagamandala. It lies at an altitude of 1350 meters and generally flows from the south to eastward direction. The river is approximately 760 km long. Its flows in the state of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and merges into Bay of Bengal. The principle tributaries of the river Kaveri include Shimsha river, Hemavati river, Arkavathy river, Honnuhole river, Lakshmana Tirtha river Kabini river, Bhavani river, Lokapavani river and the Amaravati river. 

Story of Popularity behind River Kaveri :There are many different stories behind the birth of River Kaveri. One of them goes as such- In the ancient times the condition of the south India was becoming worse due to the severe drought in the area. Watching this sage Agastya felt very sad and prayed to the Lord Brahma to help the mankind to come out of this situation. Brahma said if you go to the place where Lord Shiva lives and collect some of the snow water that never ends, than you will be able to start a new river. Rishi Agastya went to the mount Kailash and filled his pot with the snow water and went back. He started searching for the good place to start the river in the hilly Coorg region. He became tired searching for the right place and handed his pot to the small boy who was playing there. That little boy was actually Lord Ganesha who selected the place to start the river and slowly put the pot down and disappeared. After some time Agastya called out – Little boy what do you think. He got no answer. Soon he noticed a crow spilled the pot of snow water on to the ground. After some time Lord Ganesha appeared instead of crow with the smiling face. He said I have done nothing wrong but have helped you in finding the right place to start the river. Sage Agastya smiled and Ganesha disappeared. This is how rishi Agastya brought River Kaveri into the Himalayas.

Religious Importance : 
The river Kaveri is the sacred river of India and holds the special religious importance. People in India considers river Kaveri as Goddess and worship it. She has been referred o as the Goddess Kaveri Amman. According to the legends she purifies our karmas and washes away all our sufferings. She is the Universal mother and is believed to give us peace. 

Other purpose of the Kaveri river : 
The river Kaveri has been supporting the large amount of wildlife. Millions of people in south India are heavily dependent on its water especially the tribal population. Its water is widely used for the purpose of irrigation and for the power supply. The hydroelectric plant built on the left Sivanasamudra Falls on the Kaveri, was the first hydroelectric plant in Karnataka.

Yamuna River

Origin of Yamuna river : 
The holy river Yamuna originates from the Bundar Poonch glaciers located in the state of Uttaranchal in India. It begins its journey from Jamunotri in the north of the Himalayan ranges. The total length of the river Yamuna exceeds up to 1,370 kms. 

History : 
According to the ancient Indian scriptures Yamuna was the daughter of the Sun God called Surya, sister of Yama (the God of death). River Yamuna is deeply connected with the Lord Krishna's birth. After his birth his father Vashudeva crossed the River Yamuna carrying him in the bucket. When Lord Krishna fell into the water, Yamuna once again became sanctified with the dust of his lotus feet. There are lot more stories connected with the River Yamuna in India. 

Holy Bath : 
According to the legends, by taking a dip in its water one can be freed from all the past sins of his life, as it is the same place where Lord Krishna used to play during his childhood. There is popular belief among the Hindus in India, according to which one who take bath in its water do not fear death. 

Religious Importance : 
Yamuna also known as Jamuna in India is regarded as Goddess in India. Many people in India call it Jamuna Mata and worship it. There are many festivals celebrated on the Yamuna river. Some sat that the source of the river Yamuna is the glacier lake called the Saptarishi Kund . There is also a sacred shrine of Yamunotri near this source. Every year thousands of pilgrims gather at te temple dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna. Yamuna river finds mention in the great Indian epic Mahabharata and Ramayana. 

Journey of River Yamuna :
River Yamuna flows in the state of Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the northern India. It rises from the Himalayas near Yamunotri and from here the river flows through the Mathura Virandavan. Than she moves towards the southern parts of India and passes through the southeastern parts. At one point she reaches Prayag, where she joins the Holy Ganga. After that both Ganga and Yamuna flows till Ksheer Sagar. 

Flora and Fauna : 
The river holds the rich flora and fauna around itself. It is home to number of wild animals especially the Indian elephants.

Brahmaputra River

MYTHOLOGY Brahmaputra has been depicted as the son of Lord Brahma, creator of this universe. There are many legends that support this myth. A tenth-century text called Kalika Purana tells the story of the birth of Brahmaputra. In ancient times, there lived a sage named Shantanu and his wife Amogha. Impressed by their piety, Lord Brahma felt Amogha was the right person to bring forth his own son whom he wanted to create for the benefit of humanity.

Therefore, Amogha bore Brahma’s son. Shantanu then placed him in the midst of four mountains, the Kailash, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, and Sambaka. The son assumed the form of a large mass of water where the Gods and heavenly maidens would have their bath. Deriving from this myth, the Brahmaputra is considered a male river even today. He is the most important among the seven male rivers in the country.

ALONG THE RIVER

Brahmaputra runs for about 800 miles in Tibet where it is called the Tsangpo. It bends to the south as it enters India and runs as River Siang for a while. The Siang falls to the plains at Pasighat in the easternmost state of Arunachal Pradesh. Pasighat is a place worth visiting. Something amazing about the Siang here is that it changes its color every half an hour.

The banks on either side of the Siang are covered with lush green vegetation. As the rivers Dibang and Lohit join the Siang, it acquires the name of Brahmaputra and flows into Assam. Brahmaputra is to Assam what the Ganges is to the northern part of India and Kaveri is to the south.Coming down from a place called Sadiya, south of Arunachal Pradesh, the Brahmaputra passes through Dibrugarh, Neamati, Tezpur, Guwahati, and finally joins Padma, the easternmost strain of the Ganges. This combined stream then flows into Bangladesh where it joins river Meghna, one of the most important estuaries of the Ganges.

The Brahmaputra valley is closely associated with lores from the great Indian epic Mahabharata and with Shaivite traditions (worship of Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu pantheon).

Every few yards there is a ruin or a site that brings mythological associations with it. One site, which is considered very holy, is the Kamakhya temple, about 2 km from the banks of the Brahmaputra, near Guwahati. It is believed that if one do not go up the steps leading to this temple of feminine power, Shakti, or the consort of Shiva, he will be made to cross the Brahmaputra seven times. That was quite a threat, for the Brahmaputra is not a quiet river that lets you pass easily. In fact, there are stretches that are so dangerous that locals believe a monster lives in those patches. Every year that monster takes a toll on the human life as boats capsize or floods swallow the neighboring areas.

Group Discussion Tips

Many companies and institutes are making group discussion as the first criteria for screening the candidates for face-to-face interviews. And there is reason too for giving huge importance for Group Discussion. First thing Group Discussion is used for mass elimination! And second thing group discussion selection criteria’s are based on actual company requirements.

Communication and Group Discussion skill are two relevant soft skills that are must for software testers.

Why group discussion should be the first criteria for selecting software testers?

Software tester requires communication with different people like team members, managers and customers. So interpersonal skill is very important for tester.

Yesterday one of our readers mailed me about her problem. She is very good at work but when it comes to taking credit for her work, someone else is taking the credit.

Why this is happening? She is lagging in interpersonal skills. Lagging in communication. She might be proficient in many skills, but what if she isn’t able to communicate her thoughts in front of her seniors or evaluators? Simply, she will lose the credits of her own work!

Making a good impression while speaking in meetings or interviews is the basic skill every professional should have. Let’s see how you can make this impression.

What skills are judged in group discussion?

• How good you are at communication with others.
• How you behave and interact with group.
• How open minded are you.
• Your listening skill.
• How you put forward your views.
• Your leadership and decision making skills.
• Your analysis skill and subject knowledge.
• Problem solving and critical thinking skill.
• Your attitude and confidence.

Do’s and Don’ts of Group discussion:

1) Keep eye contact while speaking:
Do not look at the evaluators only. Keep eye contact with every team member while speaking.

2) Initiate the GD:
Initiating the GD is a big plus. But keep in mind – Initiate the group discussion only when you understood the GD topic clearly and have some topic knowledge. Speaking without proper subject knowledge is bad impression.

3) Allow others to speak:
Do not interrupt anyone in-between while speaking. Even if you don’t agree with his/her thoughts do not snatch their chance to speak. Instead make some notes and clear the points when it’s your turn.

4) Speak clearly:
Speak politely and clearly. Use simple and understandable words while speaking. Don’t be too aggressive if you are disagreeing with someone. Express your feelings calmly and politely.

5) Make sure to bring the discussion on track:
If by any means group is distracting from the topic or goal then simply take initiative to bring the discussion on the track. Make all group members aware that you all need to come to some conclusion at the end of the discussion. So stick to the topic.

6) Positive attitude:
Be confident. Do not try to dominate anyone. Keep positive body language. Show interest in discussion.

7) Speak sensibly:
Do not speak just to increase your speaking time. Don’t worry even if you speak less. Your thoughts should be sensible and relevant instead of irrelevant speech.

8 ) Listen carefully to others:
Speak less and listen more! Pay attention while others are speaking. This will make coherent discussion and you will get involved in the group positively. You will surely make people agree with you.

9) No need to go into much details:
Some basic subject analysis is sufficient. No need to mention exact figures while giving any reference. You have limited time so be precise and convey your thoughts in short and simple language.

10) Formal dressing:
Do not take it casually. No fancy and funny dressing. You should be comfortable while speaking in group. Positive gesture and body language will make your work easy.

How to Face GD

A group discussion consists of:

1.       Communication Skills

2.       Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject

3.       Capability to co-ordinate and lead

4.       Exchange of thoughts

5.       Addressing the group as a whole

6.       Thorough preparations

Communication Skills

The first aspect is one's power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact.

It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages.

Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.

You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance, British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing, negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before people without any nervousness.

Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject

Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.

Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities

The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.

Exchange of Thoughts

A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.

The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview. These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation skills.

 A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc. Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered. .

Addressing the Group as a Whole

In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a whole.

Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can. Needless to add, as for the interview, attend the group discussion in formal dress. The language used should also be formal, not the language used in normal conversations. For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai", "CP", "I dunno", etc. are out. This is not to say you should use a high sounding, pedantic language. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish, (mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded.

Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate.

Thorough Preparation

Start making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember, the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75 lakh civil service aspirants each year.

It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your not being well-prepared. 

In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines. Your group behaviour and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others' viewpoints.

Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.

Points to Remember
Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.

• Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
• Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
• If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.
• A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.
• A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
• Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
• Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
• Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
• Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her